Category Archives: Jobs

Home Improvements, Jobs, News

What do heating engineers do and how to become one

Heating engineers primarily work on the heating of a specific building or structure. Their role involves maintaining and installing pipe work, to assessing the various fixtures and fittings that are used to heat up a variety of buildings. These include residential, commercial and industrial properties.

Heating engineers or plumbers?

People often get heating engineers and plumbers confused as their area of work is very similar. However, heating engineers don’t venture into any other area other than heating. They typically work on boiler servicing, as well as radiators, thermostats and air source heat pump installation.

Plumbers are involved with water-based appliances and fixtures, including taps, toilets, sinks and dishwashers. From clearing blockages and fixing water leaks, to installing water-based appliances and maintaining drainage and sewage systems – plumbers are your go-to for these particular types of issue.

If there’s a problem with your heating system or you’d like to book a boiler service or repair, the best tradesman to contact is a heating engineer.

Gas Safe Registered

It is required by law that heating engineers are Gas Safe Registered. You can always check if a company is registered by looking on their website, as a certification is usually displayed. Or, you can visit the Gas Safe Register website and look up the company’s name.

It’s important to ensure that your heating engineer has the relevant skills and expertise to perform work on your boiler or other heating systems. If they don’t appear to be Gas Safe Registered, ask them for proof of certification.

Please note that plumbers can hold the same Gas Safe Registered certification as heating engineers, but it doesn’t mean they are qualified to work on gas boilers.

When to call a heating engineer

Heating engineers are best positioned to help with repairs, replacements, services and emergencies that involve your central heating systems. You would usually contact a heating engineer for the following:

  • Central heating systems
  • Radiators
  • Thermostats
  • Hot water cylinders
  • Piping and fixtures

How to become a heating engineer

Perhaps you’re interested in becoming a heating engineer yourself. The average salary is more than £37,500 a year, with the opportunity to increase this if you have a large clientele.

To become a heating engineer, many people start as an apprentice or take up a college course to receive the appropriate qualifications. Apprenticeships are a great way to get on-the-job training and earn an income whilst doing so.

You’ll be introduced to gas safety and engineering, combining both theory and practical work as you train to become qualified in the trade. There are various level 2 certificates or diploma’s you can apply for, and there are plenty of online resources to help you get started.

 

 

Careers, Healthcare, Jobs, News, Northamptonshire, Northants, Wellbeing

The University of Northampton shines a light on a career in Occupational Therapy during Occupational Therapy Week (7-13 November)

This week is Occupational Therapy week (OT week)[i] and the University of Northampton, and leading healthcare providers in Northamptonshire are shining a light on opportunities to train for a career in occupational therapy, as well as current job opportunities across Northamptonshire.

OT week, organised by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), aims to raise the profile of occupational therapy with a campaign called ‘Lift Up Your Everyday’.

Occupational therapists play an important role in looking after the nation’s health by supporting people to overcome the challenges of everyday life resulting from illness, trauma and ageing and the role is increasingly in demand. A survey from the RCOT found that 85% of OT’s report an increase in the number of people seeking children’s services[ii] and 82% said there was an increased demand for OT led rehabilitation[iii].

As well as working with individual patients and their families, occupational therapists could also work with groups, or as part of a multidisciplinary team in hospitals, clinics, charities, prisons and social services departments[iv].

 

“Helping others overcome barriers to leading a meaningful life is a truly fulfilling vocation”

Oliver Perry recently graduated from the University of Northampton and now works as  an occupational therapist in a Neurological Rehabilitation Centre in Northamptonshire.

Oliver says, “Occupational Therapy is a remarkably diverse and unique form of healthcare. The profession offers an incredible variety of opportunities across many health and social care settings, working with equally varied patient populations.

I am an advocate for the profession, having seen the real-life impact occupational therapy can bring. I would encourage any student who is motivated to positively impact the lives of others to study occupational therapy. Supporting others in overcoming barriers to leading a meaningful life is a truly fulfilling vocation.”

Undergraduate study at UON encompasses a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and assignments. Taught modules will serve to prepare students to apply Occupational Theory to any practice placement.

Whether working to support dementia patients in their own homes, providing strategies to enable children to manage at school or delivering education to carers and family, occupational therapy has a key role play.

The route to becoming an occupational therapist is via a degree in occupational therapy at university or an apprenticeship degree. The University of Northampton is one of the top 10 institutions for occupational therapy and offers a BSc Occupational Therapy degree which prepares people to work as a registered occupational therapist in the UK and overseas.

Open Days Planned in November, December and January

The university is hosting several open days on 19 November, 7 and 10 December and 14 January for those considering a degree in occupational therapy. Click here for information and to register to attend.

Those already qualified, could also considering furthering their careers by applying for an MSc Advanced Occupational Therapy at Northampton University. This is a post registration masters that can be completed on a full or part time basis.

 

Existing Vacancies

There are also a number of vacancies across Northamptonshire for those wanting to progress their career. These include:

 

  • Occupational therapist opportunities at NHFT for full-time and part-time physio and occupational therapists in the community rapid response, intermediate care team based in both Kettering and Northamptonshire supporting people across the county. This is a Band 5 role with a salary of £27,055 to £32,934 per year. Closing date is 14 November 2022.

 

  • Senior occupational therapist at St Andrews Healthcare, a leading provider of specialist healthcare for people with mental disorders, acquired brain injury and progressive neurological conditions. This role is working in the medium secure division with people presenting with a wide range of diagnoses and occupational needs. The salary is £33,275 to £40,000 and the closing date is 30 November 2022.

 

To find out about other vacancies across Northamptonshire visit https://bestofbothworlds.uk.net/

[i] https://www.rcot.co.uk/occupational-therapy-week-2022

[ii] https://www.rcot.co.uk/news/survey-finds-childrens-services-crisis-point

[iii] https://www.rcot.co.uk/rehabilitation-workforce-survey

[iv] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/occupational-therapist

Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, Retirement

Why home and pet sitting could be the ideal job choice for those ‘unretiring’ due to the cost-of-living crisis

A growing number of retired people are expected to be seeking new types of employment in a bid to make ends meet as the cost-of-living crisis impacts people’s pockets, with home and pet sitting a possibility for some looking to boost income.

A recent survey by My Pension Expert[i] showed that 12% of those currently in retirement said that the cost-of-living crisis had upended their retirement plans and 6% said they think they will need to ‘unretire’ in the coming months to bolster their retirement finances.

According to Ben Irvine, Director of Operations at Homesitters Ltd becoming a home and pet sitter can give people a way to earn extra money in retirement, as well as make savings on their utility bills which can be a tremendous help for some at this worrying time.

Ben said: “Home and pet sitting is a flexible form of employment that is suited to retired people who enjoy spending time with pets and staying in new places. The role involves staying in people’s home and taking care of people’s pets when they go on holiday.

“It’s a great way to make some extra money as well as save on bills, especially during the winter, as they are staying in other people’s homes. The biggest attraction of the job for most is looking after pets, most commonly dogs and cats, and seeing different parts of the UK.

“People also welcome the money they make, often saving it up for treats such a lunches out or holidays. At this time of national crisis when everyone is feeling a little bit poorer it’s an enjoyable role that those in retirement can easily do to boost their finances that won’t feel much like work at all.”

 

Home and pet sitters employed by Homesitters Ltd typically earn around £170 as a couple for a two-week homesit, plus they get reimbursed for mileage at 45p per mile and get a daily food allowance while on assignment. With the average household energy bills expected to hit £2,500 per year[ii], spending weeks on homesitting assignments could also help to reduce this.

One couple who started homesitting after retirement are Martin and Kristine Bell from Collingham, near Newark in Nottinghamshire. Martin retired at the age of 60 from a career in industry and legal secretary, Kristine decided to retire at the same time so they could spend more time together.

The couple didn’t want to sit around doing nothing during their retirement and were keen to get out and meet new people and visit new places. Home and pet sitting seemed a good way of doing this.  Also after losing their beloved West Highland Terrier they decided not to get another dog so becoming homesitters seemed like a good compromise. They would get to spend time with animals without the commitment involved in being a dog owner.

 

Martin says, “The best way of spending the evening is having a dog on your knee or by your feet to stroke while you’re reading, it gives us a great feeling of contentment – and the dog too! We’re just ordinary people doing ordinary things and getting the maximum benefit from our retirement.

“You’d be surprised how many people aren’t aware that home and pet sitting is a job and we’d recommend it to anyone who’s retired. Where else would you get the opportunity to stay in different homes in new places and experience other people’s pets and lifestyles and not have to pay lots of money to do it?”

 

Homesitters Ltd are different to many other pet sitting agencies in that all their homesitters are employed by them, are fully vetted and insured, plus they provide 24/7 back up support for homesitters on assignment. Homesitters also meet clients and their pets beforehand to be briefed on the home and the pets’ routine to ensure the assignment goes smoothly.

 

For more information on Homesitters Ltd and to apply to become a homesitter visit: www.homesitters.co.uk

[i] https://mypensionexpert.com/2022/08/26/the-true-impact-of-the-cost-of-living-crisis-on-pension-plans-revealed/

[ii] https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9491/

Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, Travel

Why homesitting is the perfect flexible job for early retirees

In the summer analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies highlighted a big rise in the number of older workers choosing to retire early[i]. It found that there were almost half a million fewer people in paid work in the UK in the first quarter of 2022 than before the Covid-19 pandemic started.

Other figures this year from the Office for National Statistics[ii] pointed to a wave of resignations and early retirements as three in five over 50s left the workforce sooner than planned. Lifestyle changes were the reason behind why around a sixth of people had left the workforce.

Often people in their 50s and 60s who decide to take early retirement still want to keep busy and do something worthwhile. Many simply want a change of direction and to do something fresh and exciting. Taking on a part-time flexible role such as home and pet sitting can be just the solution.

Many of our homesitters are younger retirees who have taken early retirement and who want to try something new. They want to spend their time exploring more of the UK, meeting new people and being able to pick and choose when they work.

Homesitting can give them all of this. It’s a role that involves staying in people’s homes when they go away to look after the home and any pets they have. Assignments could take place anywhere in the UK and our homesitters enjoy the flexibility to choose which assignments they take on.

This means it can easily work around other commitments such as hobbies, spending time with family, volunteering or taking more holidays. For most the main attractions are exploring different parts of the UK, without the cost of hotels or B&Bs and spending time with pets.

Dogs and cats are the most common, but our homesitters have looked after most types of pets from rabbits, llamas and pot-bellied pigs to snakes, lizards and tortoises. Our homesitters can choose to only work with certain types of pets but many relish learning about different types of pets.

For our homesitters Paula and Gavin Rose from Dorset, who are both in their fifties, it was the ideal role for them when three years ago they decided they no longer needed to work full time and wanted to try something new.

Previously, Paula ran a swimming lessons business with her sister, while Gavin worked for a company that designed and installed interiors for boats.

Paula explained, “We wanted a lifestyle change – to live in different parts of the country and meet new people and we researched different ways to do this. We discovered Homesitters Ltd and it sounded perfect. We love animals and are keen walkers, and being a homesitter involves travel and the new experiences we were looking for.”

They take on around 12 assignments a year, varying in length from three or four days to a month at a time. They usually look after dogs and cats although they’ve also looked after chickens and a tortoise, and one of their assignments involved working at a hedgehog sanctuary.

The couple were asked by their client if they would help out at a hedgehog sanctuary while they looking after the client’s home and two dogs and a cat.  The job involved feeding rescued hedgehogs that were sick and injured and weighing them to check they were progressing well. Once the hedgehogs recovered they were reintroduced to their natural habitat.

“It was a really interesting homesit” said Paula, “we enjoyed learning to handle and care for the hedgehogs, it’s not often you get to see these little creatures close up and we took great pleasure in helping with their recovery.”

Whilst the couple live in a small bungalow, the places they stay are often far grander.

Paula and Gavin prefer to be in the country rather than a town and many of the homes they stay in are surrounded by land or woodlands where they enjoy walking. Sometimes, there are swimming pools and table football or pool tables, so there is always something to do whatever, the weather.

Paula recalled one of her favourite homes, “It was like staying in a National Trust property, the gardens were very well kept and beautifully laid out, there were ponds and statues. It was such a pleasure to stay in that beautiful setting.”

In their spare time on assignments the couple visit nearby towns, read, or research holidays on their computer.

They find it reassuring that Homesitters are there as a back-up should anything go wrong and that someone from the Head Office calls them regularly to check they are happy and comfortable. They also appreciate the fact Homesitters tries to match them to assignments in the countryside.

Paula concluded, “We speak to a lot of people about homesitting and how much we enjoy the role, we are always recommending it to other people.”

Homesitters is always looking for active, reliable and enthusiastic retirees to become homesitters. To find out more about the role and to apply click here.

—

[i] https://www.ft.com/content/8b7cd47a-68e9-4cf6-8a25-e6a3e5a8d378

[ii] https://www.standard.co.uk/business/3-in-5-over50s-left-work-early-during-the-pandemic-b987905.html

Education, Jobs

North Wales jobs team receive prestigious careers award

COLEG CAMBRIA received a prestigious award after developing new guidance for employability staff and students.

The Jobs Growth Wales+ team at Deeside was lauded for introducing a long-term strategy for lecturers, learners, and support workers at the college.

The department’s successful pilot project saw them presented with the acclaimed Careers Development Award from Careers Wales.

The award was designed to recognise an educational establishment’s “commitment to continuous quality improvement” and meet the Welsh Government’s statutory entitlement for Careers and the World of Work for 11 to 19 year-olds in Wales.

Whilst institutions can receive the award after working towards it for a year, the commitment lasts for three years and involves a cyclical process of auditing the current careers support provision, self-evaluating and implementing a plan to develop this further.

Employability Mentor and Jobs Growth Wales+ Curriculum Lead Paula Blundell, and Samantha Moore, Curriculum Director of Jobs Growth Wales+, have led on the scheme for Cambria since January.

“We were pleased to be the first at Cambria to take this on as in future all areas of the college will follow suit,” said Paula.

“It was a chance for us to focus on employability needs, reflect on our approach and standards for staff and students – and look at what we do well and where we can improve.

“It was a really useful exercise and will allow us to be even more efficient going forward.”

Samantha added: “It encompassed everything from our Welsh language provision to health and safety and other legislation and was followed up by a plan targeting specific areas so we could draw-up bespoke actions for our team and the learners.

“We focused on the Welsh language, numeracy and literacy, and wellbeing and resilience given the challenges of the pandemic.

“This will be of huge value to our staff and students so we would like to thank Careers Wales for their support and this award.”

Mark Owen, Head of Services to Stakeholders at Careers Wales, said: “We’re delighted to have presented the Careers Development Award to Coleg Cambria this year.

“It’s so important that those continuing into post-16 education are receiving the right guidance and support that they need to plan their future careers effectively.

“Working with our CWRE coordinators to develop a robust careers and world of work programme can have many benefits, including improving young people’s self-esteem, enhancing their career exploration and decision-making skills and progressing educational outcomes.

“We look forward to continue working closely with Coleg Cambria to support the further development of careers support to their students.”

Visit www.cambria.ac.uk for more news and information from Coleg Cambria.

For more from Careers Wales, visit the website: www.careerswales.gov.wales.

Animals, Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, Retirement

Five things you never knew about homesitting

Savings on energy bills

There are many benefits of becoming a homesitter, from exploring new parts of the UK to taking care of pets. What most people may not have considered it’s also a great way to make savings on energy bills.

Homesitters stay in someone else’s home, so those that take on assignments during the colder months could make sizeable savings. With household bills set to rise to eye watering levels next January this could be quite a bonus!

One of our retired homesitting couples, Brian and Barbara Kennedy do about 200 days of homesitting each year on around 20 assignments, ranging from two days to their longest of seven weeks.  They enjoy the role for many reasons including making savings!

Brian says, “We’ve visited more parts of the Home Counties in the past 18 years than we did in the previous 40 years. Homesitting is like having lots of small holidays and we regularly pack our bags, load the car and set off on a new adventure.

“The payment we receive isn’t a strong motivation but it’s nice to have. It means we can enjoy occasional pub lunches during our stays without putting a strain on the budget and we have significantly reduced our home heating bill too.”

Staying in stately homes

Homesitting is also an opportunity to stay in a wide variety of homes from farm houses to penthouse flats, stately homes and historic castles – all for free.

Janet and Steve Groom from Kent thoroughly enjoy the home and pet sitting lifestyle, staying in gorgeous properties and looking after pets. The couple have a regular assignment in Barnes in London where they enjoy taking the dogs for walks in Richmond Park which is close by, plus there is a heated outdoor swimming pool they can use.

Janet says, “We often have to pinch ourselves to believe some of the homes we stay in. How else would you get to experience living in such gorgeous houses with swimming pools and beautiful gardens? Home and pet sitting is an amazing experience and we get so much out of it.”

Looking after unusual animals

Our clients have many different types of pets, from different breeds of dogs and cats to llamas, sheep, spiders and snakes and we have homesitters we can call upon no matter what the pet is. For example, we have a couple who are now fondly known as the Piggy-Banks as their surname is Banks and they regularly looked after a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig for a London-based client.

Pigs tend to be sensitive and temperamental animals and they also don’t like to be moved so the family needed someone to live in their house and look after him. The family called upon Homesitters and we found them this great couple who were happy to look after a pig, as well as all the other family pets including a terrier, a corn snake, a gecko and a tortoise!

Mileage and food costs covered

Home and pet sitters employed by Homesitters Ltd typically earn around £170 as a couple for a two-week homesit, plus they get reimbursed for mileage at 45p per mile and get a food allowance which often people don’t realise. This means they can eat for free whilst on assignment and travel costs can add up if the assignment is a long way from home.

As the role is flexible homesitters can take on as many assignments as they want during the year and some people may spend half of the year on assignment. Most of our homesitters are retirees on fixed incomes. Although the money they can earn isn’t usually the main motivation for taking on the role, it definitely comes in handy and can boost pension income.

It suits adventurous people

Sharon Payne

When people retire most don’t just want to sit at home twiddling their thumbs. Homesitting can satisfy this desire for adventure as it’s a great opportunity to visit new parts of the UK and step into the life of someone else for a short while. Homesitters live in a client’s home, taking care of their pets and can experience what it’s like to live somewhere different.

For homesitter, Sharon Payne from Milton Keynes this is just what she wanted. After taking early retirement from a busy career she has been home and pet sitting for over four years.  Sharon wanted to keep busy in retirement but was unwilling to take another 9 to 5 office job.

Sharon enjoys travelling, spending time with pets and meeting interesting people. Talking about one of her most memorable assignments she says, “I stayed in a beautiful old house in a small village where I looked after two dogs – and 35 tortoises!

“I really enjoyed looking after them, although I had to keep going to the local shop for more salad as they eat a kilo of salad every day between them. They are quite low maintenance and mostly put themselves to bed at night although I did have to check they were all in their beds and look for any stragglers.”

A keen golfer, Sharon always takes her golf clubs with her to play a few holes if there’s a golf course nearby. She is also enjoys photography and always takes her camera out on walks with the dogs. She says the day just flies by while she’s on assignment – and she certainly doesn’t find her retirement boring!

If homesitting sounds appealing, why not apply to become one? We are currently recruiting and would love to hear from anyone that thinks they would make a great homesitter. Please click here to find out more about the role, the type of people we are looking for and to apply.

Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, Pets, Retirement, Travel

Why becoming a homesitter is good for your wallet…. and your patience!

People wanting to avoid the travel chaos that has hit UK airports and ports this year, and enjoy a stress free UK break with petrol and pay covered then homesitting could be for you!

Homesitting involves staying in people’s homes when they go away to take care of the home and any pets. It offers a fantastic way to explore the UK, staying for free and having petrol costs covered. Duties are minimal. And whilst home and pet sitting is a serious responsibility it is meant to be enjoyable.

 

Normally the average working time does not exceed 1.75 hours per day. When homesitters are not carrying out duties, they are free to remain on the client’s premises or to explore the local area.

Any period away from the property must not exceed three consecutive hours during daylight or one hour after dark, but homesitters can leave the premises on more than one occasion each day.

Our homesitters tell us that they enjoy their trips out visiting local towns they may never have been to, exploring local beauty spots and National Trust properties or taking country walks with the dogs they look after.

Shops, museums and galleries are among the varied attractions of city home sits, and for rural sits visiting country pubs and enjoying peaceful time away from the hustle and bustle of life are big draws.

 

Most of our homesitters are retirees in their 50s, 60s and 70s and many rely on their pension incomes. The cost of living crisis has meant that rising prices for petrol, food and energy are hard to avoid, but becoming a homesitter can be a way to limit the impact and boost pension income.

Home and pet sitters employed by Homesitters Ltd typically earn around £170 as a couple for a two-week homesit, which includes a daily food allowance, plus they get reimbursed for mileage at 45p per mile.  People can also make savings on their energy bills as they are staying in someone else’s home, especially if they do lots of assignments.

 

Former hotelier, John Charlick (pictured above) has been home and pet sitting for four years since retiring from the hospitality industry.  Keen to stay active in retirement, John looked for a flexible part time role. He has friends who dog sit who suggested he might try something similar. He found Homesitters online, applied and was offered the job.

 

John’s favourite part of the role is the travel across the UK to different homes and meeting different people. John says, “I’m still working in the hospitality industry in a way. I’m a real people person and love the social side of the job but my favourite thing is staying in gorgeous homes and visiting places I haven’t been to before.

 

“It can be like going on a mini break. I often stay in great locations and very glamorous homes, with swimming pools and tennis courts. I took up playing the piano again a few years ago so if there’s a piano I enjoy playing in the evenings.

“I also enjoy spending time with the animals, particularly dogs. I’ve owned dogs in the past, but now that I live in a flat it isn’t practical to have one and they are rather a tie. Homesitting gives me the opportunity to look after dogs and take them for walks, but I can then hand them back to their owners – rather like having grandchildren!”

 

One of John’s most memorable home sits was an assignment in Guernsey. He explains, “I’d never been to the island before, so it was interesting to visit for a week. I stayed in a charming house looking after a cat; it was almost like a holiday with free travel and accommodation.

“I also enjoy taking on assignments in London. I lived there for a time and still have lots of friends I can meet for lunch. My favourite assignment is for a regular client who has a Whippet. I stay there four times a year and usually arrive the night before the client goes away so that we can all have supper together – I almost feel like one of the family.”

 

If this role sounds great, why not apply to become a homesitter? We are currently recruiting throughout the UK and would love to hear from people interested in becoming homesitters. To find out more and to apply, click here.

 

Events, Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, North of England

Liverpool ONE recruitment drive event returns with hundreds of hospitality and retail roles available

Liverpool ONE is gearing up to stage its annual recruitment day to help local people land a job within retail and hospitality.

The event, which takes place on Tuesday 6 September, will see stores and restaurants from across the retail and leisure destination offering hundreds of vacancies across all levels, from store managers and supervisors to sales assistants and baristas.

Those looking to secure a new role will also have the chance to get interview tips from the experts in Liverpool ONE’s HR team, while a printing service for CVs will also be offered at the Information Centre on Wall Street.

Among the brands taking part are JD, who are offering over 150 positions, John Lewis & Partners with 100 vacancies, Tessuti’s brand new flagship store offering 50 roles, Guess, Bierkeller, MAC and many others, with a mixture of full and part-time roles available.

The recruitment drive aims to encourage more people to consider a career within retail and hospitality and explore the opportunities for development within the sector.

 

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming local people of all ages and backgrounds as we host our second recruitment drive following the success of last year’s event.

“We know there’s lots of untapped talent across the Liverpool City Region, with students coming into the city and looking for a part-time role, to more mature candidates looking for a change or a new opportunity.

“The opportunity to develop an exciting career in retail and hospitality are here and we’re really keen to talk to local people who are looking for roles at all levels. Visitors can work with our HR team on the day to perfect their interview technique and make sure they have the best chance at securing the job they want.”

 

Anyone considering vacancies on the day is invited to pop in to stores across Liverpool ONE who display signage indicating they are hiring.

Donna added: “With Christmas just around the corner, it’s more important than ever to attract – and retain – local talent and help them to hone their skills. There’s more than 3,500 people already working across Liverpool ONE and we’re looking forward to increasing this number in the coming months and helping to build long-lasting careers.”

Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, North of England

15 new jobs up for grabs as Conservatory Outlet expands again

One of Yorkshire’s leading manufacturers of windows, doors and living spaces has launched its latest recruitment drive as it looks to make the most of new products and growth in its retail network.

Conservatory Outlet, which already employs over 130 people in the region, is creating 15 new jobs at its Wakefield factory and will be showcasing the different roles during a special Careers Day this Saturday (20th August).

Most positions will be on the shop floor and in the warehouse, with experienced applicants and people looking for a change in career all welcome.

Held at West Yorkshire Windows on Headway Business Park, the three-hour event will give people the opportunity to meet existing staff and find out what it is like working for one of the fastest growing firms in the county.

They will hear about the progression paths in the business and the range of softer benefits on offer, including training leading to recognised qualifications, healthcare payments and staff events that boost team spirit.

“This is a really exciting time to join the business, as we are expecting recent investments in new machinery and our digital transformation to really pay off with new sales and new opportunities,” explained Caroline Mellor, HR Business Partner at Conservatory Outlet.

“Our 27-strong network of retailers are still experiencing strong demand from homeowners, and we need to make sure we are in a position to maintain lead times and accommodate any new surges that might happen as people choose to improve their homes rather than move to new properties.”

She went on to add: “We are launching our latest recruitment drive for 15 immediate starters on Saturday, and we thought the best way of getting as much interest as possible was by holding a Careers Day where people can ask questions, find out more about the roles and where they may lead to.

“West Yorkshire Windows is a fast-growing retailer in our network, and we’ve held it here to show potential staff the complete Conservatory Outlet journey and where the windows, doors and living spaces they could help make and supply will eventually be used.

“Although the focus is on factory and warehouse roles, there are also some office jobs we are also recruiting for.”

Conservatory Outlet continue to innovate the home improvement market with its approach to marketing, lead generation and product launches.

Gary Pape, who joined Conservatory Outlet when he was 20 years old, has worked his way up to become a Factory Glazing Production Supervisor.

He added his support: “I’m able to do different jobs, which is great as there’s always something different to do every day.

“I’ve also been given the opportunity to learn new skills and go on both hard and soft skills courses, such as product, management and communication training. This was all designed to help me progress through the business to the point where I’m now a Production Supervisor and lead specific parts of the manufacturing process.”

Caroline concluded: “Saturday is a great opportunity for people to get to know Conservatory Outlet, what we do and the culture we have in the business.

“Everyone is welcome, whether you’re just about to get your results and starting out or someone who is looking to return to work, change careers or looking for a firm that allows you to progress.”

Careers, Job Opportunities, Jobs

CV writing tips- Help you get the job you want

Looking for a new job can always be a difficult task and one that is arduous but could be very rewarding if you do it right. One way to set yourself up to get a new job is by having the best CV possible. This is the first step in the job searching process so you need to nail that down as best you can.

You may have skills that you did not know would be important for example being able to speak a made-up fictional language such as Dothraki or Elvish or being able to provide a guide to betting esports or know every flag in Europe. These skills can help you stand out but what makes for a good-looking CV?

 

Length

This is the most important thing about a CV. No employer is going to look at a CV if it is too long. Submitting 4 pages is far too much and it will put your chances of getting a job at the bottom of the pile.

Getting all of your experience on one page or at a maximum of two pages then that is ideal for how long a CV should be. Any more and it becomes off-putting for the reader.

As work coach, Adam Anwar feels this is key, “When you are writing your CV you do not want to make it long and monotonous. You want to keep it short, to the point and make sure it is full of job-specific content.”

“Just imagine your CV is going to be read by the laziest person in the world”

 

Job Specific

Rather than sending out a blanket CV with jobs on there that do not fit the career path you want. Make sure you are looking at making your previous experience in work life as specific to the career path you want as much as you can.

Using technical jargon for the specific industry will help you stand out from others who may have made the mistake of just putting every single job they have ever had even if it is not relevant to what they want to do now.

It can be time-consuming to do this but it is much more effective to adapt to be job-specific rather than taking the “shotgun approach” and hoping for the best when you “fire” off CVs to jobs that might fall into different sectors.

 

Layout

Making sure the CV is aesthetically pleasing can really set you out from the tens or hundreds of other applicants.

With a CV, you want to be looking at using bold headings of your previous work and small one-line bullet points of what you did at that place of work. This ties into what Adam said about imagining the laziest person in the world is reading your CV.

Another thing to consider with your layout is to avoid too much white space. This can be more striking than anything for an employer who is looking at prospective employees.